Bathroom floor panel

ABSTRACT

A bathroom floor panel which is securely dried on the next day is provided. When water drops onto a floor panel  1,  the surface tension of the water is broken by irregular-shaped portions  8  and the water spreads without forming waterdrops shown by the imaginary line. Also, the irregular-shaped portions  8  reduce the flow velocity of the water so as to prevent the water flowing in channels  7  from being discontinued. With this, although the drain velocity of the water is low, no water remains as an island. Further, even if some water remain on the irregular-shaped portions  8  after the water flows out the channels  7,  the water is evaporated in a short period of time bacause the amount of the remaining water is very small.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a resin bathroom floor panel to be assembled as a part of a unit bath.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In recent bathrooms of homes or the like, unit baths are in the mainstream. This is because the application of preliminary waterproofing works to the bathroom space of a building has become unnecessary by using a waterproof floor pan having a floor made of a waterproof material such as an FRP.

[0003] Moreover, in order to deal with the arrival of an aging society in recent years, the waterproof floor pan has been designed based on a non-slip specification in which irregularities are formed on the waterproof floor pan. With this, even when soap water or the like is mixed with hot and cold water, it is possible to prevent a user from slipping and falling down as much as possible while body-washing is performed in a wash place. In addition, a rock pattern or a grain pattern has been adopted in the surface of the waterproof floor pan for the water place so as to improve the design.

[0004] As an example of the above-described unit bath, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-93745 is known.

[0005] However, although the above-described waterproof floor pan of a unit bath has good feeling in use because it is not slippery at the time of performing body-washing in a wash place or the like, the irregularities adversely affect the capability of drainage on the surface of the wash place, and thereby the water to be drained remains as an island. Even on the next day, the water continues to remain without being air-dried because it contains a large amount of water relative to the surface area and is not easily dried. Consequently, when a user stands on the wash place portion in the bathroom with socks on to clean a bathtub, the socks will get wet, which it is very uncomfortable. Also, it is troublesome to put off socks for every cleaning. In particular, it has been painful for elderly people because the remaining-water is cold in the winter season.

[0006] The present invention has been achieved to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bathroom floor panel in which no water remains on a wash place portion of a unit bath on the next day without impairing the non-slip effect of the wash place portion of the unit bath.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In order to solve the above-described problem, a bathroom floor panel according to a first aspect of the present invention is comprised of projections for preventing slippage provided on the surface of the panel; channels connecting to a drain hole or a drain groove and provided between the projections; and irregular-shaped portions for breaking the surface tension of waterdrops provided at least on the channels.

[0008] With this structure, it is possible to achieve both of a non-slip effect and an effect of preventing the surface from being wet by the remaining water.

[0009] Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, irregular-shaped portions for breaking the surface tension of waterdrops are formed in a direction resisting the water flow. With this, it is possible to control the flow velocity of water which flows in the channels, prevent the water from being disconnected and remaining as an island, and thereby dry the surface of the floor in a shorter period of time.

[0010] A bathroom floor panel according to a second aspect of the present invention is comprised of projections for preventing slippage and breaking the surface tension of waterdrops provided on the surface of the panel; channels connecting to a drain hole or a drain groove and provided between the projections; and means for reducing the flow velocity in the channels so that the water in the channels is not discontinued.

[0011] With this structure, it is possible to achieve both of a non-slip effect and an effect of quickly drying the floor.

[0012] In the second aspect of the present invention, the above-described means for reducing the flow velocity in the channels may be a curve on the downstream side of the channels or a gentler gradient on the downstream side of the channels.

[0013] Further, in the second aspect of the present invention, the above-described means for reducing the flow velocity in the channels may be fine irregularities as obstacles which are provided in the channels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a bathroom floor panel according to a first aspect of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the bathroom floor panel;

[0016]FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a bathroom floor panel according to another embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2;

[0018]FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3;

[0019] FIGS. 6(a) to (c) show the behavior of water on a floor panel;

[0020]FIG. 7 is a plan view of a floor panel according to a second aspect of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a floor panel according to another embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 9 is a detailed plan view of the floor panel according to another embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention;

[0023] FIGS. 10(a) and (b) are sectional views of the shape of channels of the floor panel taken along line C-C of FIG. 9;

[0024] FIGS. 11(a) to (d) are detailed views of the shape of channels according to another embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention; and

[0025]FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the state of disappearance of a waterdrop on a floor panel in another embodiment according to another embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0026] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a bathroom floor panel according to a first aspect of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the bathroom floor panel; FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a bathroom floor panel according to another embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention; FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3; and FIGS. 6(a) to (c) show the behavior of water on a floor panel.

[0027] A floor panel 1 is prepared by molding a resin material (for example FRP) and comprised of a bathtub installing portion 2 and a water place portion adjacent thereto. The bathtub installing portion 2 may be a split type in which it is formed as a separate member from a water place side floor panel and these are connected afterwards, or a bathtub with a water place in which a bathtub side floor panel itself is formed into a bathtub shape.

[0028] A drain hole recess 4 for drainage is formed on the surface of the water place of the floor panel 1, and a drain hole 3 is disposed in the drain hole recess 4.

[0029] The floor panel 1 has a drain gradient so that the drain hole recess 4 is located in the lowest position. Water on the floor panel 1 flows along the drain gradient and is collected into the drain hole recess. 4. In this embodiment, a drain groove 5 is provided to help drainage together with the floor drain gradient, and water on the floor panel 1 is collected and allowed to flow into the drain hole recess 4.

[0030] In the first aspect of the present invention, projections 6 for preventing slippage and continuous channels 7 between these projections 6 are formed on the surface of the floor panel 1. The channels 7 are designed so as to be generally oriented toward the drain hole 3 or the drain groove 5. The projections 6 for preventing slippage may have a relatively long shape as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, or a circular shape as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, but not limited to these.

[0031] Even if waterdrops remain on the top surface of the projections, the water can be dried up until the next day by controlling the amount of waterdrops that can independently remain on the top surface of the projections without flowing into the channels defining the periphery of the projections to 2 cc or less. The amount of 2 cc or less can be air-dried in about eight hours under an average bathroom environment, for example, under an environment of a temperature of 15.3° C. and a humidity of 66%.

[0032] Further, irregular-shaped portions 8 for breaking the surface tension of water drops are formed at least on the channels 7 of the floor panel 1. The irregular-shaped portions 8 have a linear shape and are formed in a direction intersecting the projections 6 and the channels 7. Consequently, the velocity of water which flows in the channels 7 is controlled by the irregular-shaped portions 8, and the water is allowed to flow slowly in the channels 7 without being discontinued.

[0033] Furthermore, lattice-like boundaries 9 are provided on the surface of the floor panel 1 to improve the design, insofar as the functions of the projections for preventing slippage 6, the channels 7 and the irregular-shaped portions 8 for breaking the surface tension are not impaired.

[0034] In the above-described structure, when water drops to the surface of the floor panel 1, the surface tension is broken by the irregular-shaped portions 8 and the water spreads in the channels 7 without forming a waterdrop shown by an imaginary line of FIG. 6(a). The spreading water flows in the channels 7 which are formed continuously and enters the drain bole 3 directly or through the drain groove 5,

[0035] Since the irregular-shaped portions 8 not only break the surface tension so as to increase the surface area for evaporation of water, but also serve as a resistance to the water flowing in the channels 7 so as to control the flow velocity in the channels, the water flowing in the channels 7 is not discontinued as shown in FIG. 6(b). Specifically, the water in the channels 7 is surely drained in a state where the water flows slowly but continuously to the drain hole 3 or the drain groove 5, so that no water will remain as an island.

[0036] Even if the water flowing in the channels 7 remains between the irregular-shaped portions as shown in FIG. 6(c), the amount of the remaining water is extremely small and the water will evaporate in a short period of time so as to present no practical problem.

[0037]FIG. 7 is a plan view of a floor panel according to a second aspect of the present invention. The structure of the floor panel is the same as the first aspect of the present invention except the surface shape. The floor panel of this embodiment is formed by providing projection-shaped portions 10 for preventing slippage and breaking the surface tension over the whole surface of the floor panel 1, channels 11 between the projection-shaped portions 10, and means for controlling the velocity of drain water in the channels 11.

[0038] Even if waterdrops remain on the top surface of the projection-shaped portions, the water can be dried up until the next day by controlling the amount of waterdrops that can independently remain on the top surface of the projection-shaped portions without flowing into the channels defining the periphery of the projection-shaped portions to 2 cc or less. The amount of 2 cc or less can be air-dried in about eight hours under an average bathroom environment, for example, under an environment of a temperature of 15.3° C. and a humidity of 66%.

[0039] In FIG. 7, the means for controlling the flow velocity in the channels 11 is illustrated as an example in which the channels 11 at the downstream of the water flow are formed in a state being curved in a direction resisting the drain gradient. However, other means may be used such as providing a gentler drain gradient on the downstream side of the channels compared with other areas or providing fine irregularities in the channel 11 so as to resist the drainage.

[0040] As mentioned above, in order to effectively dry water on the surface of the floor panel 1, it is important to eliminate the water remaining as an island by controlling the flow velocity of the water and preventing the drain water from being discontinued at the time of introducing the water which has dropped to the surface of the floor panel 1 into the drain hole 3.

[0041] Generally, a floor, in which the velocity of drain water is greater, is considered as “a floor with good drainage”. However, when the velocity of the water flowing down to be drained is great, the water which is continuously drained is discontinued so that the water is allowed to remain. Consequently, the remaining water as an island is easily produced, which finally results in a floor that is difficult to be dried.

[0042] Thus, the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 has a structure in which drainage is not interrupted on the way by providing a curve on the downstream side of the channels 11 so as to reduce the capability of drainage on the downstream side and cause a stagnant state to the drain water in the channels 11.

[0043] The same effect can be obtained by providing a gentler drain gradient on the downstream side.

[0044] Also, the means for controlling the drain velocity in the channels 11 may be fine irregularities provided in the channels 11 as obstacles. The same effect as mentioned above can be obtained in this case.

[0045]FIGS. 8 and 9 are a perspective view and a plan view, respectively, of the embodiment of a bathroom floor panel according to the second aspect of the present invention in which another means for controlling the flow velocity is provided. In the floor panel of this embodiment, there are formed projection-shaped portions 12 for preventing slippage and breaking the surface tension over the whole surface of the floor panel 1. The projection-shaped portions 12 have a substantially rectangular shape of about 5 mm×about 10 mm, and have a relatively large height of 0.5 mm. Also, the projection-shaped portions 12 are formed very close to each other at an interval of 2 mm, and thereby channels 13 defined between the adjacent projection-shaped portions 12 has a depth of 0.5 mm and a width of 2 mm, respectively. The channels 13 are connected to the drain hole 3 (not shown) or the drain groove 5 (not shown) on the downstream side of the water flow. In such a narrow and deep channel, the viscosity resistance of water is remarkably exerted as a flow velocity control effect, and the flow velocity in the channels 13 can be controlled effectively together with a surface tension effect which is produced in such a narrow channel.

[0046] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the amount of water in the waterdrop that can independently remain on the upper surface of the projection-shaped portion 12 without flowing into the surrounding channel 13 is limited to a very small amount of about 0.2 CC by making the projection-shaped portion 12 small. Therefore, even if a waterdrop independently remains on the projection-shaped portion 12, it can be air-dried more quickly under the above-described bathroom environment, and the floor surface can surely be dried in a shorter period of time.

[0047] More specifically, the projection-shaped portions 12 having a basic shape of a rectangle are disposed in rows and columns in an alternating configuration. The channels 13 defined therebetween are allowed to be frequently turned and branched, and thereby a fine network configuration of the channels 13 can be obtained. Consequently, the flow resistance in the channels is increased, and the water flowing to the downstream can follow various paths.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 10(a) and (b), the section profile of the channels 13 in this embodiment has a substantially V-shaped taking cleanability or the like into consideration. However, the channels 13 may have any other section profiles such as a substantially square shape or a substantially round shape as shown in FIGS. 11(a) to (c). In this connection, the width and the depth in the section profile of the channels 13 are defined by W and D, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Regardless of the section profile of the channels 13, when the profile is formed as a two-level shape in which the section profile is varied in the course as shown in FIG. 10(b), FIG. 11(b) and FIG. 11(d), the width of the channel-forming portion in which substantially minimum water can be stored is defined as the channel width W.

[0049] Moreover, the shape and configuration of the projection-shaped portions 12 may include any shapes such as a substantially circular shape, a substantially square shape and a geometrical pattern, other than a substantially rectangular shape described in this embodiment, in any configurations including combinations of different shapes. Specifically, any configuration, shape and path may be used as far as the effect of the dimension and path of the channels 13 defined between the projection-shaped portions, and the viscosity resistance or surface tension of the water that is generated in the channels 13 can produce the flow velocity controlling effect in which, when water is dropped onto the surface of the floor panel 1, the water flowing into the channels 13 can be retained temporally without being discontinued until the waterdrop formed on the surface is broken and the shape of the waterdrop disappears.

[0050] The operation of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure will now be described.

[0051] Firstly, in the first aspect of the present invention, the waterdrop formed in the course of using water on the surface of the floor panel 1 has a tendency to spread and flow into the channels 7 as shown by the imaginary line of FIG. 6(a). This is caused by a general physical phenomenon that the waterdrop is split by a vertical interval of the irregularities of the floor surface and flows from a higher projected portion to a lower recessed portion. The projections 6 for preventing slippage and irregular-shaped portions 8 serve to help the above operation.

[0052] The water flowing into the channels 7 passes through the channels 7 that are continuously formed, and is drained directly to the drain hole 3 or through the drain groove 5.

[0053] In the case of conventional common floors, a floor panel is made of a hydrophobic material such as plastics, which inherently repels water and makes the drainage in the channels excessively good so as to increase the flow velocity too much or generate non-uniformity in the flow velocity. Consequently, even if the waterdrop is pushed into the channel 7 by the effect of the surface shape of the floor, the water is often discontinued at an early stage in the channel 7, and the remaining part of the water tends to stop. As a result, the water that is dropped onto the floor panel 1 cannot completely break its waterdrop shape and tends to remain as an independent waterdrop.

[0054] The above-described irregular-shaped portions 8 of the first aspect of the present invention have an effect of breaking the surface tension of a waterdrop and introducing the water into the channels 7, and also serving as a resistance to the water that tends to flow into the channels 7 and to the downstream so as to reduce the flow velocity of the water and create a stagnant state where the water in the channels 7 passes slowly. With this, it is possible to create a water-retained state in which the channels 7 are filled with continuous water. Further, since the water in the channels 7 is drained only at a slow velocity, the water-retained state can be maintained for a long period of time. Therefore, even if the surface of the floor panel 1 is hydrophobic, the water flowing in the channels 7 is not discontinued at an early stage as shown in FIG. 6(b), and the above-described state in which water is retained temporally can be maintained for a long period of time.

[0055] Even if a user takes a bath in this state, other water is flowed onto the surface of the floor panel 1, and the water temporally forms waterdrops on the surface of the floor panel 1 due to its surface tension, since the waterdrops are in contact with the water which has already been present in a temporally retained state in the channels 7 on the floor panel 1, the water of the waterdrops gradually flows into the channels 7 by a synergistic effect of a water-attracting/introducing effect of the water in the channels 7 and the above-described surface tension-breaking effect of the projections 6 and the irregular-shaped portions 8. Then, the water is introduced to the drain hole 3 or the drain groove 5 slowly but without being discontinued and securely drained. Consequently, the waterdrops on the floor panel 1 disappear and do not remain on the floor panel 1.

[0056] The water-attracting/introducing effect by the water temporally retained in the channels 7 utilizes the surface tension of water. Since water tends be spherical due to its surface tension so as to minimize the surface area, it is stabilized as a waterdrop on a hydrophobic material. However, when a plurality of waterdrops which exist individually and stably by each surface tension are brought into contact with cach other, force to combine these waterdrops into one drop is generated at the time of the contact. This is because a larger waterdrop formed by combining the plurality of waterdrops results in a smaller total surface area and provides higher stability. This force is derived from the surface tension of an individual waterdrop, and even a waterdrop in a stagnant state where no other external forces operate can obtain power to move by the surface tension of the water itself at the time of being brought into contact with another waterdrop or water. In the first aspect of the present invention, when the water temporally retained in the channels 7 is brought into contact with the remaining water which has formed new waterdrops on the floor panel 1, force generated by the surface tension of these two kinds of water is utilized as the water-attracting/introducing force into the channels 7. Consequently, the waterdrops remaining individually are reduced, and thereby the time for drying the surface of the floor panel 1 is reduced.

[0057] The water flowing into the channels 7 and temporally retained does not completely stop, but is slowly flowing at a controlled velocity. Therefore, even after waterdrops disappear, the total amount of the water temporally retained in the channels 7 on the floor panel 1 can be securely reduced as the lapse of time, and thereby the floor panel 1 can be dried quickly. Even if some water remains between the irregular-shaped portions 8 as shown in FIG. 6(c) after the water flows out the channels 7, the remaining amount of the water in this case is very small, and it will evaporate in a short period of time. Therefore, there will be no problem in practical use.

[0058] Also, the temporally retained state of water in the channels 7 only needs to be maintained until the waterdrop produced on the surface of the floor panel 1 is mostly attracted and introduced into the channels 7. Even if the continuous state in the channels 7 is partly discontinued at any part on the floor panel 1 before the waterdrop disappears, the effect of the first aspect of the present invention will not be impaired. This is because, if the channel 7 which is actually in contact with the waterdrop is connected with the downstream portion of the floor panel 1 through any channel 7 in a water-retained state in any path, the water of the waterdrop flows along the path and is drained.

[0059] Also, even if the continuous and water-retained state in the channels 7 is discontinued just after disappearance of the waterdrop and water remains only in the channels 7, the remaining water spreads over a wide area of the floor panel 1, and thereby the water is more easily air-dried than water remaining in a individual waterdrop state. Therefore, the effect of the first aspect of the present invention is not impaired.

[0060] In addition to the above, the amount of water that can remain on the top surface of the projections for preventing slippage without being brought into contact with the water in the channel is controlled at a level of 2 CC or less, This amount can be dried in about eight hours under common bathroom ventilation conditions, average temperature and humidity environments. Since the amount of water can be air-dried in about eight hours after use of a bathroom until the next morning under a common bathroom environment, even if some waterdrops unfortunately are not brought into contact with the channel at all and remain independently, the amount of the water can be controlled to the amount that can be dried in a predetermined period of time, and thereby the object of the present invention can be achieved sufficiently. Therefore, there will be no problem.

[0061] In the embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention shown in FIG. 7, projection-shaped portions 10 which have both of a non-slip effect and a surface tension-breaking effect are formed over the whole area of the surface of the floor panel 1, and the channels 11 are defined between the projection-shaped portions 10. The water flowing on the surface of the floor panel 1 is split by the projection-shaped portions 10 and pushed into the channels 11. A stagnant state is produced in the drain water in the channels 11 by curving the channel on the downstream side of the water flow in a direction resisting the drain gradient or by providing a gentler drain gradient on the downstream side of the water flow compared with other areas as means for controlling a flow velocity so as to reduce the capability of the downstream side drainage in the channels 11. Specifically, there is provided a structure in which the water in the channels 11 is not discontinued on the way. The means for controlling the flow velocity of the drain water in the channels 11 may be fine irregularities provided in the channels 11 as obstacles.

[0062] According to common sense, a floor having a higher drain velocity is easily considered as “a floor with good drainage”. Therefore, various modifications to improve the capability of drainage in the drain channel have been proposed as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-243941. Especially in a floor made from a hydrophobic material such as plastics, if the velocity of the drain water which flows to the downstream is too high, the drain water in a continuous state is often easily discontinued on the way, the remaining water produces waterdrops which are isolated as an island. Therefore, although these modifications seem to improve drainage, they provide a floor actually difficult to be dried. Thus, the second aspect of the present invention as well as the first aspect of the present invention has adopted the structure in which the overall capability of drainage and drying is improved by controlling the velocity in the channel 11 so as to cause a stagnant state to the water flow on an area of the floor based on a conception which goes counter to the prior art.

[0063] According to this structure, by providing means for controlling the flow velocity in the channels 11, part of the water flowing on the floor panel 1 is temporally retained in the channels 11, and the water is allowed to be in a continuous state in the channels 11 for a while. With this, the waterdrops on the floor panel 1 can be attracted and introduced into the channels 11, and the waterdrops can be gradually broken. After that, the water slowly and securely flows in the channels 11 without being discontinued, is drained from the floor, and thereby can be securely reduced as the lapse of time. Also, by spreading the water widely on the floor panel 1, it is possible to promote efficient air-drying and significantly decrease the time for drying the floor.

[0064] In addition to the above, the amount of water that can remain on the top surface of the projections for preventing slippage without being brought into contact with the water in the channel is controlled at a level of 2 CC or less. This amount can be dried in about eight hours under common bathroom ventilation conditions, average temperature and humidity environments. Since the amount of water can be air-dried in about eight hours after use of a bathroom until the next morning under a common bathroom environment, even if some waterdrops unfortunately are not brought into contact with the channel at all and remain independently, the amount of the water can be controlled to the amount that can be dried in a predetermined period of time, and thereby the object of the present invention can be achieved sufficiently. Therefore, there will be no problem.

[0065] In the embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, by making the width and the depth of the channels 13, which are defined between the substantially rectangular projection-shaped portions 12 on the whole area of the surface of the floor panel 1, narrow and deep, respectively, it is possible to prevent the water in the channels 13 from being discontinued. This can be achieved by both effects of the viscosity resistance and the surface tension of water. Also, since water has viscosity in itself, the viscosity resistance is easily exerted as an effect of controlling a flow velocity in the narrow and deep channels 13, and thereby a sufficient effect of controlling a flow velocity can be obtained. Further, an effect of temporally retaining water in the channels 13 is enhanced together with the effect of the surface tension generated in the narrow and deep channel shape. Therefore, even if the floor panel 1 is made from a hydrophobic material that inherently repels water, water in the channels 13 can be temporally retained in a continuous state without being repelled.

[0066] The viscosity resistance is also easily developed in water which flows to the downstream in the channels having a narrow pitch or a network configuration. Therefore, the flow velocity controlling effect can be obtained, and thereby water can be temporally retained in a continuous state in the channels 13, in the same manner as the case mentioned above.

[0067] In addition to the above, the amount of water that can remain on the top surface of the projections for preventing slippage without being brought into contact with the water in the channel is controlled at a level of 2 CC or less. This amount can be dried in about eight hours under common bathroom ventilation conditions, average temperature and humidity environments. Since the amount of water can be air-dried in about eight hours after use of a bathroom until the next morning under a common bathroom environment, even if some waterdrops unfortunately are not brought into contact with the channel at all and remain independently, the amount of the water can be controlled to the amount that can be dried in a predetermined period of time, and thereby the object of the present invention can be achieved sufficiently. Therefore, there will be no problem.

[0068] In the embodiment of FIG. 9, by making the projection-shaped portions 12 smaller, the above-described amount is further reduced to 0.2 CC, and thereby reliable drying in a shorter period of time can be achieved.

[0069] It should be noted that the state where the amount of water in a waterdrop that can remain on the top surface of the projection-shaped portions 12 on the floor panel 1 without being brought into contacting with the water in the channels 13 is controlled to a level of 2 CC or less, means a substantial state. Therefore, even if the amount of water that can remain the projection-shaped portions 12 exceeds the level in some projection-shaped portions 12, this state shall be substantially the same as the above-mentioned state as far as the effect of drying the floor does not change the gist of the second aspect of the present invention.

[0070] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the projection-shaped portions 12 have a size of about 5× about 10 mm, and are disposed in rows and columns in an alternating configuration. The channels 13 defined therebetween are allowed to be frequently turned and branched, and thereby a fine network configuration of the channels 13 is formed. With this, the flow resistance in the channels is increased, and the water flowing to the downstream can follow various paths.

[0071] This is effective in that the water of the waterdrops can securely be drained through different paths even in a case where the water is retained in the channels 13 in a continuous state is partly discontinued.

[0072] Also, the width of the projection-shaped portions 12 is adjusted to about 5 mm, which is close to the average diameter of waterdrops. With this, it is possible to improve the effect of breaking waterdrops, the water on the floor panel 1 can be brought into contact with the water in the channels 13 with a high probability, and thereby the water becomes difficult to exist on the projection-shaped portions 12 as independent waterdrops. Therefore, the amount of water that may unfortunately remain on the projection-shaped portions 12 can be limited to a range where the water can be dried up by air-drying. Also, as mentioned above, according to this embodiment, since only about 0.2 CC or less water can exist independently on the projection-shaped portions 12, it is possible to break waterdrops and dry the floor surface more securely,

[0073] By utilizing the effects of flow velocity control and surface tension, the water is temporally retained in a continuous state in the channels 13, and produces the same effects as the above-described first and second aspects of the present invention. With these effects, as shown in FIG. 12, it is possible to attract and introduce waterdrops into the channels 13, and then drain completely. Consequently, the floor can be dried at an early stage in the same manner as the first and second aspects of the present invention.

[0074] Industrial Applicability

[0075] As mentioned above, according to the present invention, by providing irregular-shaped portions to break the surface tension of waterdrops and prevent formation of waterdrops on the surface of a bathroom floor panel, the surface area of the water remaining on the floor surface can be increased, and thereby the water be dried in a short period of time. As a result, the floor surface can be brought into a dried state on the next day without impairing the non-slip effect.

[0076] Also, by providing the irregular-shaped portions for breaking the surface tension of waterdrops in a direction resisting the water flow, it is possible to control the flow velocity of the water which is drained to a drain hole or a drain groove, and prevent the water from being discontinued. As a result, it is possible to prevent the water from remaining as an island, and thereby dry the floor surface securely in a predetermined period of time.

[0077] Also, since the bathroom floor panel has projections for preventing slippage and breaking the surface tension of waterdrops, channels connecting to a drain hole or a drain groove and provided between the projections, and means for reducing the flow velocity in the channels to prevent the water in the channels being from discontinued, the water on the floor surface can be securely drained without being discontinued, and the drying performance of the floor surface can be improved.

[0078] Also, in the bathroom floor panel of the present invention, part of the water flowing onto the floor surface is temporally retained in a continuous state in the channels by controlling the flow velocity of the water in the channels, and the amount of water that can independently remain on the top surface of the projections without being brought into contact with the water that is temporally retained in the channels is controlled to 2 CC or less. Therefore the amount of water that may independently remain on the projections can be limited to an amount that can be sufficiently air-dried in a predetermined period of time under a common bathroom environment, and thereby the drying performance of the floor can be securely obtained. 

1. A bathroom floor panel comprising projections for preventing slippage provided on the surface of the panel; channels connecting to a drain hole or a drain groove and provided between said projections; and irregular-shaped portions for breaking the surface tension of waterdrops formed provided at least on said channels.
 2. The bathroom floor panel according to claim 1, wherein said irregular-shaped portions for breaking the Surface tension of waterdrops are formed in a direction resisting the water flow in said channels.
 3. A bathroom floor panel comprising projections for preventing slippage and breaking the surface tension of waterdrops on the surface of the panel; channels connecting to a drain hole or a drain groove and provided between said projections; and means for reducing the flow velocity in said channels to prevent the water in said channels from being discontniued.
 4. The bathroom floor panel according to claim 3, wherein said means for reducing the flow velocity is a curve on the downstream side of said channels or a gentler drain gradient on the downstream side.
 5. The bathroom floor panel according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said means for reducing the flow velocity is fine irregularities as obstacles which are provided in said channels. 